Engineered stone ban – 1 July 2024
This page contains important information for South Australian businesses, workers consumers and the general public.
Please feel free to share the stakeholder kit with your networks.
South Australia has joined other states and territories in implementing a ban on the use of some engineered stone products to protect workers from the potentially fatal effects of respirable crystalline silica dust.
The national ban, introduced on 1 July 2024, prohibits the manufacture, supply, processing and installation of engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs.
The decision was based on a recommendation by Safe Work Australia following expert advice about the rise of silicosis in engineered stone workers.
Engineered stone can be safely used once installed, so long as it remains undisturbed and no work is carried out to remove, repair or modify it as this could generate silica dust.
There is no requirement to remove engineered stone that is already installed.
Porcelain products are excluded from the ban along with finished engineered stone products such as jewellery, garden ornaments sculptures and kitchen sinks which do not require processing or modification.
Stakeholder kit:
- Silica dust resource - Safe Work Australia
Exemption for re-installation of Existing Engineered Stone
The Executive Director, SafeWork SA as the Regulator has granted an exemption to the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012 in specific circumstances, to enable the reinstallation of an existing engineered stone benchtop, panel or slab that was removed in order for repair or other work to be undertaken in the location.
The exemption is applicable to persons with management or control of undertaking work to remove and reinstall an existing engineered stone benchtop, panel or slab in order to undertake repair or other work to be undertaken in the location.
Conditions apply to the exemption, please refer to exemption notice for the conditions and circumstances as to when the exemption applies.